Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-24
"AS IN A LOOKISG-GLASS.

New YORK on Monday In dramatiZatiOn OF one OF
the most skillful and brilliant OF recent novels
/ he man who has not read "a In a Looking GIass'
has big piece OF good fortune awaiting him. It's
BOOK OF such amazing force in cnaracter-draw.
Ing and uraiuatlc uAaAes That II lendStselI read
lily t. stage adaptation. Every man at all con.
nected with the dramatic profession had a 20 at
the book and plays founded on tue novel were Sc
| thick month ago That Mrs. Langtry said she
could scarcely see across the street for tnem. 4
great number were submitted TO her-I know per.
sOndliy flve enthusiasts laid their wares be.
lore the L1ly-and sne finally selected one. 1t is
one OF Inc worst SO lar written, and speak with.
out bias, Tor am shining anu unique exception
to the rule and did not attempt TO put the enter.
tanning novel In stage form.
DRoLL PEOPLE IN THE BOXES
The first night OF "As in Looking Glass" was
made the event OF the season by OF those queer
and mysterious DEGREES that govern New York
life. A week before the event everybody fell to
talking about the production, and as he time ap-
preached the demand for seats became rabid nd
nervous. Big prices were paid. An enormous
audience was present. Among the people were
languid and Bsthetically dressed women without
hats ana without escorts, who drawled mOnOt-
onously into each others ears, and convinced the
Spectators at d glance that they were authors OF
cooks that were never read and writers OF plays
that were never played. They sneered at the
stage. Their versions or "As in Looking Glass
had evidently been rejected. 1t Was a big crowd.
but society was not there. was amused at the
statement That 1.-The boxes were filled with the
leaders OF New York society,"" which appeared In
morning paper. ALI the papers mentioned the
TACT that fashion and society beamed from the
boxes In sober truth there was rather drull
and extraordinary lot or people in the boxes One
party consisted OF Edward stokes, who was tried
brokerage business. Another was Billy Conner
the hOroeinan and hotel-keeper and some ladies:
a third Was presided over by doc,o OF unpleas-
ant emlnence; fourth made up OF that clever
woman, Georgia Drew, and her friends while O
man named Gllsey, and d public entertainer
hno" d as MARSHALL Wider made up the sum total
HpautrS orb ,,r,h< "A
Tue LILY. She never had much OF hold among
The best people here, and It has been growing
leeOler AS years passed on.
LANGTRY's ACTING SEVERELY CRITICIZED.
The play Is very similar to the version now be-
Ing presented In London by Mrs Bernard Beere It
SUCKS 10 the novel closely, and makes the heroine
Lena Despdrd, an adventures OF desperate wick.
edness. In the version now being presented at the
Fifth Avenue Theater the men ..ane the hiIS MIR.
barrymore ana ar Robert hililard make u nota-
bly, handsome and striking pair. TO the surprise
OF every one Mr.. billiard took the honors way
from tue Older actor. The women OF the company
are wretchedly Inadequate and hOppy. They are,
without exception tue least attractive looking
collection ever saw, and they are painfully lack.
Ing In ability. Mrs. Langtry has surrounded ner-
sen With women who are plain In feature and no
cannot act she hopes TO SHINE by contrast. she
oOeS-as lar as looks 30. Lena Despurd Is sup
posed to be snrewd, lactIul, brilliant scheming
anu clever adventures. Mrs. Langtry plays the
character with about as much delicacy, poush and
Skill as an amiabie COW might be expected to bring
10 Inc practice or portrait painting on porcelain
She Is painful and sincere failure, and the con-
vctOn sIorced upon the public and the critics that
Whatever This handsome OMAN dues well is the re-
suit OF elaborate and lndefaJigabie tutoring. The
Characters that have been drilled and dunned into
ner she plays well: In essay1ng new character
Without having been taught for months and
months by some such master OF his art as Charles
Coghlan she falls to the Stiited and awkward leve
OF q raw but conceited amateur. At present Mrs
absurd, and her efforts at emotional acting Silly
suited and bizarre. BLAEHLY HALI